Saturday’s Letters to the Editor

EDITOR: When politicians say we need a discussion about guns, that translates as, listen while we tell you how we will do away with the Second Amendment.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision from 1943 says “the very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts.” Remember Miranda? “Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or legislation which would abrogate them.” How about this from the 5th U.S. Circuit of Appeal? “The claim and exercise of a constitutional right cannot be converted into a crime.”

So, with those as the starting point, and the clear wording of the Second Amendment that the right of the people shall not be infringed, what is there for them to say? We choose to ignore the Constitution and the Supreme Court? That is exactly what they want to do.

We see the same politicians attacking freedom of speech, of assembly, free exercise of religion. We hear them railing against due process. Talk about guns. Just don’t touch our civil rights.

JOE LOVELL

Santa Rosa

Drop the charges

EDITOR: The powers that be are working overtime to demonize Alejandra Hernandez-Ruiz (“RP mom gets medical release,” Sept. 30). She wasn’t charged or found to be under the influence of any drug: “Sobriety tests right after the crash determined she was not under the influence.” Now they say she had consumed alcohol the day before. What has that got to do with the day of the accident?

She says she was cut off by another car, she swerved to avoid it, went into the median and overcorrected, resulting in the car going into the river and the deaths of her children.

I’m glad she has been released from custody so she can continue treatment of her medical needs. Now let’s demand all charges be dropped. Hasn’t this woman suffered enough? Must we put her and her family through more trauma?

IRENE DURHAM

Sebastopol

Past time to talk

EDITOR: Once again I hear in the media the proliferation and perpetuation of another idiotic phrase: “Now is not the time for political discussion” and then valiant accounts of brave responders. Let’s be honest. We are a vain, uncivilized, vile and stupid people who have brought this upon ourselves, revisiting this tragedy over and over and taking no action to prevent it.

JEFF MULANIX

Santa Rosa

Anthem ‘hysteria’

EDITOR: The Colin Kaepernick saga was originally intended to protest inequity in the treatment of black citizens with regard to police and the shootings of black suspects. That was the reason Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem.

The now famous kneeling has turned into many paths of expression that have no relationship to the original intent. Many expressions have been misguided, as was President Donald Trump’s comment regarding the protesting football players as unpatriotic SOBs who should be fired. Many fans burned jerseys, while many athletes held arms with the team owners in a show of solidarity.

All of this hysteria could have been avoided if the commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell, had disavowed Kaepernick’s kneeling in protest, claiming that an employee in uniform is prohibited from self-expression at any sports or 49ers event involving the team. It was a personal expression that may or may not express the employer’s views.

Certainly, every American citizen has a constitutional right to express his or her opinion on his or her own time, not while employed representing a company or owner. The national anthem was a means to convey a message had nothing to do with being a patriot.

DANIEL KANIGHTS

Santa Rosa

Air traffic

EDITOR: I am very concerned about the increase of jet traffic noise in Sonoma County. I see subdivisions being built without the infrastructure to support increased growth. I am dismayed that the Board of Supervisors approved enlarging the airport terminal to accommodate more air travel. In my opinion, the county government is in the devil’s pocket.

What happened to individual responsibility to lessen your carbon footprint?

I know it is going to be hard to change from the use of fossil fuels. There is little to no government support. It is up to individuals to stay more local, invest in alternative fuel vehicles and change ways to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Do you really want to see the s--- hit the fan?

LESLIE MIKULICH

Santa Rosa

Firing offense

EDITOR: Wouldn’t you love to see one of these Republican senators or House members, when the 45th president disrespects women, minorities and anyone who disagrees with him, say, “Get that son of a b---- out of the White House right now. Out. He’s fired.”